Oral health condition and treatment needs among young athletes with intellectual disabilities in I ndonesia

Background Data on the oral situation of young people with intellectual disabilities are scarce, especially data of children from a developing country. Aim To describe and to evaluate the oral treatment needs of Special Olympics Special Smiles Athletes in I ndonesia between 2004 and 2009. Design A cross‐sectional study data were collected through interviews and clinical examinations using the Special Olympics Special Smiles CDC protocol. Participants Indonesian Special Smiles athletes; their mean age was 13.46 years ± 2.97. Results More than 70% of athletes had visible untreated decay. Almost 30% (29.8%) of the athletes had gingival inflammation. Pain in the oral cavity was reported by 28.6%. Athletes who had untreated decay reported 6.67 times (95% CI OR; 4.00–11.14) more pain compared to those who did not have untreated decay. Athletes living in provinces on Java Island had 1.54 times (95% CI OR; 1.15–2.07) more untreated decay compared to the athletes who live in provinces in outer J ava I sland. 21.63% of the screened athletes were referred to the dentist for urgent treatment. Conclusion The results suggest that there is an elevated oral treatment need in I ndonesian Special Smiles population.